Obtaining Music Rights
Obtaining Music Rights
All student films entered into BestFest America MUST contain music which has received usage rights from the publisher and/or composer. This includes music you or a friend may have composed which is used in your film. Downloading and listening to music privately is a huge difference from using that same music in a film that gets public viewing. The cost for a popular song (even an oldie) used in a feature film is typically $100,000. For approximately $500 (for most songs), a non-student filmmaker can receive film festival-only usage rights for a single song.
As a student filmmaker, publishers and composers will often work with you to allow you to use their song in your film for FREE – but require a formal release. This means you have to plan ahead if you want to use a particular song or score in your film.
A sample request letter to a publisher (MS Word download) will help your efforts in securing limited usage rights for your film.
Also, two copies of a release agreement (MS Word download) should accompany your letter to the publisher (both copies pre-signed by you, with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return to you).
BEWARE of online music sites offering "FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS" as they usually allow for only private listening but NOT usage rights for films.
Music Clearance information
Companies that help secure rights (for a fee)
Learn to make better movies. Every entrant receives their film's scoring sheets.
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